Territory



3 Sheets-Sheet I.

F. W. WEUND. Breech-Loading Fire-Arm.

Patented March 16, 1875.

HE GRAPHIC GOJHOTOr-UTHAQ EM PARK PLACLNN.

3 Sheets--Sheet 2. I

F. FREUN. reach-Loading Fire-Arm. 10,160,762 Patented March [6. 1875.

THE GRAPHIC C0.PHOTO .-LITI .39 8=41 PARK PLACE,N.Y.

FRANK W. FREUND, OF DENVER, COLORADO TERRITORY.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 160.762, dated March16, 1875; application filed June 10, 1874.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK 1V. FREUND, ofDenver, county of Arapahoe, Territory of Colorado, have invented a newand useful Improvement in Breech-Loading Fire-Arms; and I do herebydeclare that the following is afull, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making partof this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the armas it appears after it has been fired. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectionof the arm, in the same position as in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar section in the line y 3 Fig. 5, of the arm, cocked, and just previous tohaving the empty cartridge-shell extracted. Fig. etis a similar sectionof the arm in the line y y, Fig. 5, cocked, and with its breech-blockthrown back to open the breech, and the empty shell partly withdrawnfrom the chamber of the barrel. Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectionin the line 00 w of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the lugs ofthe breech, and pin which holds the front end of the trigger-plate. Fig.7 is a plan of the trigger-plate and its attachments. Fig. 8 is alongitudinal section of the same. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of theslide which latches the hammer spring and hammertrigger after the hammeris cocked.

The nature of my invention consists, first, in a tail on the lower partof the hammer, in combination with a notch of the guard-lever, the tailand the notch being peculiarly constructed, and enabling me to cook thearm before moving the breech-block by the movement of the lever to openthe breech, and af ter the breech has been opened and the arm loaded, 1am enabled to close the breech by the lever without striking the hammerwith the lever, so as to interfere on its back movement.

It consists, second, in a nose or cam formed on the tail of the hammer,in combination with a lever and the firing-pin, whereby I am enabled tomove the firing-pin back with a positive action, and hold it so afterthe arm is cooked and during the act of closing the block, and at a timewhen the block is nearly and quite closed, and then I am enabled torelease the pin on the instant that the hammer is set free from itstrigger-pawl. Thus, while the greatest safety is insured by a hold uponthe firing-pin until the aim is taken and the hammer set free, apercussive blow With the hammer is produced, from the fact that the holdupon the pin is withdrawn the instant the hammer-trigger is drawn.

It consists, third, in a slide for latching the spring of the hammer andhammer-trigger during the act of loading the arm, in combination withthe breech-block, whereby the slide is automatically made to latch andunlatch the said spring and hammer-trigger as the breech-block is openedand closed.

It consists, fourth, in a forked guard-lever, which receives the breechbetween its prongs and fastens rigidly upon a movable pin of thebreech-block, in combination with a breechblook which is fitted looselyupon the said pin, and with a sliding thumb piece having a coupling-pinattached to it, which pin is arranged to enter an oblong passage cutthrough the pin or pivot whenever it is desired to operate thebreech-block by the guard-lever, and occupies a position outside of saidpassage when it is desired to operate the breech-block by thethumb-piece, whereby a fire-arm is provided in which the hammer can becocked before the hreechblock is opened. The breechblock can be openedand closed by the guard lever, or by the thumb-piece, and thus, when thehuntsinan is in a position which. necessitates the depression of his gunnear the ground, and there is no room for the sweep of the lever, hecan, by-simply withdrawing the coupling-pin, release the breech-blockfrom its rigid connection with the pin, and then, by taking hold of thethumb-piece, he can open and close the breech-block while the gun isdepressed close to the ground. Further, this combination is such thatthe arm is rendered capable of being operated either by the thumb-pieceor guard-lever interchangeably for rapid or slow firing, and in case theguard-lever is broken the arm is not disabled so as to be useless untilrepaired, as the thumb-piece is interchangeable with the guard-lever.This is a matter of some importance in localities where repair-shops andgunsmiths are not readilyreached. This combination is also such that thehammer can be cocked by the guard-lever first, and then the breech-blockopened by a continuation of the movement of the lever.

It consists, fifth, in a transverse spring-pin having a holding-catch,in combination with the thumb-piece and coupling-pin, whereby thethumb-piece, with attached coupling-pin, is held in an elevated positionwhile the breechblock is to be operated by the thumb.

It consists, sixth, in a pin for receiving the hook of thetrigger-plate, screw-threaded on both of its ends and screwed into thecheekplates of the breech, whereby a firm brace between the cheeks and asupport for the trigger-plate is provided by the use of a single pm.

It consists, seventh, in the forked guardlever clasping the two sides ofthe breechpiece, in combination with the pivot of the breech, extendedbeyond the cheeks of the breech, and having the prongs of the guardleverrigidly connected. to the extended end, whereby the lever is appliedwithout cutting into the breech or through the trigger-plate, and, whilethis is the case, can be operated in a more steady and perfect mannerthan heretofore.

It consists, eighth, in a peculiar construction of a cartridge-shellextractor, in combination with a peculiar spring combined therewith, andwith a breech which admits of the arrangement of the extractor directlyabove the pivot of the breech-block, and in a recess formed on one sideof the chamber of the arm. This feature of my invention is such that theextractor is applied and held in position without the aid of a pin orother fastening. Further, but three parts additional to the stock andbarrel are necessary in its construction and applicationviz., thebreech-block, the spring, and the extractor itself. These parts are ofsuch a construction that they are strong and not liable to get out ofrepair and become deranged; and the effect of the spring as applied isto hold the extractor firmly in place when the breech is closed, and atthe proper moment, after the shell has been started out of the chamberby the breech-block, to suddenly act upon the extractor with a straightthrust, and thereby accelerate the discharge of the shell from thechamber of the arm.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe it.

A represents the stock; B, the breech; O, the breech-block; 0, itscasing and steadying spring; 0, its pivot or pin; D D D D theguard-lever; E, the barrel, and q the pin by which the guard-lever iscoupled to the breechblock; F F F, the hammer and its extensions; (1,the hammer-trigger, and G the hammerspring; H, the trigger-plate; h, itshook; I, the hinge-pin of trigger-plate; ii, its screwthreaded ends. Jis the thumb-piece for operating the breech-block when the lever is notused. K is the slide for latching the hammerspring and hammer-triggerwhen the arm is being loaded. L is the cartridge-extractor, and l thespring for controlling and suddenly operating it. M is the firing-pinpassed loosely through the breech-block, and m is the lever by which itis forced back after firing the arm. The hammer is hung and operated inthe usual manner upon a pin, g, which is confined by means of aspring-catch, 9, attached to a screw-pin, n, which holds the rear end ofthe trigger-plate between the cheek-pieces of the breech B. This catchsprings into a notched socket in the end of the hammer-pivot, andprevents the said pivot from turning and moving endwise; but by movingthe catch aside the pin can be withdrawn. The tail or extension F of thehammer passes outside of the arm through a slot in the trigger-plate,while the extension F projects obliquely toward the breech-block, and islong enough to impinge forcibly upon the lever m of the firing-pin whenthe hammer is cocked and the breechblock about half closed. Theguard-lever is constructed with a finger-loop, D at its rear, and forkedat its front end, its prongs D l) passing up on each side of the breech,and receivin g through their perforated ends the projecting ends of thepin 0 of the breech-block O.

The connection between the pin and this lever is made rigid by means ofa key, 0 and a nut, 0 which screws upon a threaded end of the pin, saidnut having a spring-arm, 0 formed on it to hold the nut from turning byfalling into a groove in one of the prongs of the lever. At the junctionof the prongs of the lever an oblique socket, p, is cut on the front ofthe lever, and just above this socket a notch, p, is cut in the leverfrom front to rear.

By this construction, and the extension F of the hammer, the hammer canbe cocked when the guard-lever is moved downward and forward for thepurpose of opening thebreech,

and the lever can be drawn back without striking the tail or extensionso as to interfere; but in order to cock the hammer before the breech ismoved, an oblong slot, 1, is cut through the pin 0, on which thebreech-block is hung, and the coupling-pin q is made of smaller sizethan this slot, so that the pin 0, with the lever, may be moved farenough to cook the hammer before the breech-block begins to move. Thebreech-block is formed with a slot in its rear, in which the lever m,for moving back the firing-pin M, is set, and confined by a pivot. Thislever m, below its axial pin, projects out from the back and bottom edgeof the breech-block, and has its projectin g edge of a cam form, so asto ride up against and past the extension F with a wedging action. Theupper end of this lever is coupled to the firing-pin by entering anotch, r, in the bottom ot'said pin. The coupling-pin g has a fiatextension on its top, and this extension unites with the thumb piece J.Said pin with fiat extension is fitted in a transverselygrooved toppiece or extension of the breechblock, and at right angles to this pin alatchbolt, 8, is passed through the extension, and

fits under the shoulder formed by the junction of the coupling pin andthe flat extension thereof. This bolt has a shoulder or head,

and in front thereof a spring-lever catch, 8, is arranged, for thepurpose of pulling the bolt from under the shoulder of the coupling-pinwhen it is desired to lower the coupling-pin into the oblong slot of thepin or pivot of the breech-block.

In Fig. 5 the dotted lines show the coupling-pin and thumb-piece raised,and the full black lines show it lowered. When the pin is raised theguard-lever is free from the breech-block, and the thumb-lever can movethe block independently of the lever. When the pin is down the lever canmove the breech- -block as the pin g couples the block to the lever. Theslide K t t t 25 for latching the hammer-spring and hammer-trigger, isconstructed as represented in Fig. 9, and is fitted into grooves andslots cut in the trigger-plate, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. The partit of this slide which overhangs the lateral projection t of thehammer-spring when the hammer is cocked ceases its connection with thespring, and does not press down upon the spring and interfere with itsaction upon the hammer, when the hammer is cooked and the breech-blockis closed; but when the breechblock is being opened the said parttot'the slide is moved in range with the projection t, and bears downupon the spring and relieves the hammer from the force thereof, and atthe same instant the part t of the slide which extends in laterallybehind the shoulder of the hammer-trigger falls in behind the shoulderof the trigger, and latches the trigger in one of the notches of thehammer. Thus both hammer-sprin g and hammer-trigger are latched whilethe breech is being opened. This action of the slide is produced by thetooth t gearing with a segment-notch, t, in the end of the breech-block,while the button t protrudes through the breech and acts as a stop. Themovement of the breech-block backward causes the shoulder of thesegment-notch to strike the slide and force the rear end of the slidedown upon the spring, thereby locking the hammerspring and hammertrigger, and the forward movement of the breech moves the slide out ofrange with the projection of the hammer-spring, and free from thehammer-trigger, and thereby sets the spring and trigger free.

It is plain that if the breech is being closed the leverm will beforcing the firing-pin back from the position the hammer left it whenthe arm was last fired, as it is impossible for the cam-surface of thelever m to pass by the extension T until it (the lever) has been forcedforward and its upper end forced backward against thev tiring-pin. Itwill also be equally plain that the extension moves out of the way onthe instant that the hammer begins to fall, and thus the pin is free toact with a percussive force upon the fulminate of the cartridge. Thecartridge-extractor L, in general form, is

like other extractors so far as taking hold of the rim, of thecartridge-shell is concerned, and it occupies a position on one side ofthe breech of the gun-barrel between the barrel and one of thecheek-pieces or looking plates of the stock-being set to slide in aguide, L and held therein by the spring I. On the bottom edge of thisextractor a projection, L in form very nearly of the letter V, isprovided. At the base of one of the inclined sides of the projection ashoulder, L is formed, and at the base of the other inclined side anangular depression, L is cut, thereby forming a lug, L, which is beveledon its rear end and slightly hooking on its front end. This lug fitsdown behind a shoulder, 0 formed by cutting the open-sided recess 0 onthe breech-block O in the circumference thereof, as shown in Fig. 2. Bymeans of the shoulder G and the lug L the extractor and breech-block arecoupled together. The spring I is bowed slightly toward its rear end,and at the termination of this bowed port on it has its end 1 thickenedand shaped so as to stand parallel with the respective faces of theinclines of the projection L when in contact with the same. By thismeans the spring, when in rear of the projection, will hold theextractor from moving back; but the instant the spring escapes forwardof the projection it will recoil and produce a sudden accelerated actionupon the extractor and cause the shell to fly back out of the chamber,from which it has been started by the breech-hook taking hold of the lugL The thrust and force of the spring being in nearly a straight line,and the fall of the spring forward of the lug being very quick, theelfect upon the extractor is like that of the blow of a hammer, theconcussion causing the cartridge to fly suddenly back out of thebreech-chamber.

I am aware that cartridge-extractors composed of a greater number ofparts have been devised, and that in some instances a spring is used toassist the movement; but I am not aware that anyone has devised the planI have shown, which is very simple, durable, and effective.

The construction of my fire-arm is such that by the removal of fourpinsviz., the trigger-pin, the hammer-pin, the lever spring-pin,

and the breech-pin-the trigger-plate, with all movement to latch orunlatch both the hammer-spring and hammer-trigger, thus rendering thearm doubly safe against accidental discharge.

The-provision which the slot q makes for an independent movement of thelever in order to cock the hammer before opening the breechblock may bemade at the end of the breechblock pin or pivot, in connection with theprongs of the guard-lever, by means of a slide, or by shouldersprojecting into the hole of the lever prong; these shoulders fitting inthe pin loosely, so as to permit the necessary play.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 1 1. Thetail or extension F of the hammer, extended through the trigger-plate,in combination with the guard-lever D, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

2. The nose or cam F formed on the tail of the hammer, in combinationwith the lever m and the firing-pin M, whereby the firing-pin is movedout before the breech-block is moved, the said pin held out when thebreech-block is fully closed, and the breech-block canbe moved as muchand as often as found necessary without releasing the firing-pin at apoint where it will come in contact with the percussion, substantiallyin the manner and for the purpose described.

3. The slide K, having the stops f, for latching the hammer-spring andhammer-trigger, as shown and described, in combination with the breechblock 0, notched at t and the hammer-s ring G and hammer-tri ersubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The forked guard-lever D D I), fastened rigidly upon the extendedends of the pin 0, on which the breech-block is hung, in combinationwith the breech-block O, which is fitted loosely upon the pin0,and witha sliding thumbpiece, J, having a couplii'ig-pin, q, attached to it,which pin, at option, is passed into an oblong slot of the pin 0,substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

5. The combination of the guard-lever D, the hammer F, the breech-blockO, the oblong slot {1 in pin 0, and the coupling-pin q, whereby thehammer can be cocked before the breech is opened by the lever which isused to open the breech, and during the one movement of the lever, andthe breech can be closed without uncocking the hammer by the backmovement of the lever, substantially as described.

6. A guard-lever, forked and connected rigidly by its prongs D D to theouter ends of the pin 0, substantially in the manner described, and forthe purpose set forth.

7. The transverse spring-pin 8, having a holding-catch, s, incombination with the thumb-piece J and its attached pinq, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

8. The rectilinear moving cartridge-extractor L, fitted in the guide Lin combination with the spring land the breech-block 0, whereby theextractor is operated and held in position without any fastening-pin, asand for the purpose set forth.

9. The extractor having the hook L and the projection L in combinationwith the breech-block 0, whereby the extractor is secured in place andoperated by the breechblock, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

10. The trigger-plate, constructed with a hook, it, on its forward end,in the manner specified, in combination with the permanent pin I,supported in the cheek-pieces of the breech, and, in turn, supportingsaid checkpieces against inward and outward pressure, whereby, whilefacilities for readily removing the trigger-plate and replacing it, bythe removal of a single pin in rear of the pin I, are afforded, thecheek-plates are stayed firmly against any tendency to warp or spring,either outward orinward, during the hardening process and while in use,substantially as described.

11. The combination of the lever springstop g with the socketed andnotched pin g of the hammer, and with the trigger-pin at, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

FRANK WM. FREUND. Witnesses:

J OHN ELSNER, GEORGE O. SorILEIER.

